Apparatus for coating hot billets of optional shape with a lubricating powder



Sept. 20, 1966 HYVERT 3,

APPARATUS FOR COATING HOT BILLETS OF OPTIONAL SHAPE WITH A LUBRICATING POWDER Filed March 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

LA UR E N HVI/E/QT ATTORNEYS.

Se t. 20, 1966 1.. HYVER 3,273,534

F OPTIONAL SHAPE WITH APPARATUS FOR COATING BILLET A LU CATING POWDER Filed March 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I VENTOR, LAURE YVEQT United States Patent 3,273,534 APPARATU FOR COATING HOT EILLETS OF OPTIONAL SHAPE WITH A LUERICATING POWDER Laurent Hyvert, Paris, France, assignor to Compagnie du Filage des Metaux et des Joints Curty (Cefilac), Paris, France, a corporation of France Fiied Mar. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 354,313 Claims priority, application France, Mar. 29, 1963, 929,803 6 Claims. Cl. 118-608) This invention relates to apparatus for coating heated billets with a lubricant, and more particularly to apparatus which coats metal billets of optional shape heated to hot extrusion or hot piercing temperatures with a lubricating powder such as glass before the extruding or piercing operation.

Heretofore, various devices have been used for coating hot billets intended for extrusion or piercing with a lubricating powder, generally glass, between their exit from a furnace and their delivery into a container of an extrusion or a piercing press. One of such devices comprises an inclined track which is covered with this lubricating powder and over which the hot billet rolls. As the billet rolls down the track, the lubricant melts and adheres ot it. However, such a device is applicable only to billets which have a circular, cylindrical, or slightly frustoconical shape, and thereby are able to roll satisfactorily.

Other devices have been used for imparting rotation to billets whose shapes are such that they cannot roll naturally, for example, square billets. In these devices, either the billets are inserted into a rotating squirrel cage, or they are gripped between rotating plates, or they are handled differently. Since these cages or plates are out of the line of movement from the furnace to the press, the billet must be diverted from one of these units to the rotating device by a conveyor carriage or a slide. The succession of two completely different elements, the furnace and the rotating device and then the press, implies a certain number of complementary motions to shift the billet from one to the other. Such shifting motions involve an appreciable drop in the temperature of the billet which is greatly unfavorable to the subsequent extruding or piercing operation.

In order to avoid this drawback, a combination of the above two kinds of devices, i.e., a mounting of the rotating billet mechanism and the powder distributing mechanism on a conveyor carriage is used. However, solutions of this kind, which combine operations by superimposing one mechanism upon another, generally lead to complex assemblies which are questionably reliable.

A device has been proposed for coating hot billets which have sections with projecting corners with a lubricating powder before extrusion or piercing. This device comprises a slide for displacement of the billet, and a grid having notches for tilting it. However, the device can be used only with billets having the projecting corners and, in addition, requires distribution of the lubricating powder along a substantial portion of the slide.

My invention, which overcomes the described difficulties, relates to apparatus for coating hot billets of optional shape with a lubricating powder before extrusion or piercing. This apparatus comprises an endless conveyor belt, driven by rollers and with a middle portion which, dependent upon the speed of these rollers, forms a pocket whose depth varies between two values. One value is a minimum one at which the pocket is completely flattened and permits the billet to further advance over the belt. The second value is a maximum one at 3,273,534 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 which the billet, disposed at the bottom of the pocket, is rotated therein at a peripheral speed roughly equal to the linear speed of the belt.

The apparatus also comprises a stationary distributor of lubricating powder, which spreads the powder over all the faces of the billet during the rotation of the latter about its longitudinal axis in the bottom of the pocket.

Advantages of my invention include reduction of nonproductive periods; conveyance and rotation of the billet following each other without interruption; simplicity of the apparatus which avoids auxiliary handling of the billets and which comprises a powder distributor of relatively small size; handling of the billet free from shocks; and versatility of the apparatus in that it has application to many varied shapes and dimensions of billets normally usable in an extrusion or piercing press.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view of a third embodiment of my invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of a fourth embodiment of my invention.

As shown in FIGURE 1, my invention comprises an endless conveyor belt 1 formed by a series of endless chains which are disposed parallel to one another and which may or may not be coupled by cross pieces positioned perpendicular to the belt.

Rollers 2, 3, 4 and 5 mount and engage the belt 1 and preferably the rollers are sprockets which mesh with the belt 1. Roller 2 is driven by a motor 6 and roller 4 is driven by a motor 7, while rollers 3 and 5 are idler ones.

The chain belt 1 is supported between rollers 2 and 3 by a slide table 8 and is supported between rollers 4 and 5 by a slide table 9.

Between rollers 3 and 4, the chain belt is not supported and resulting slack between the rollers 3 and 4 can be changed according to the ditference in peripheral speeds between driving rollers 2 and 4. Such diiference in speed forms a pocket to contain a billet 15. As shown in FIGURE 1, reference numerals 10, 11 and 12 mark different positions actually assumed by the belt 1 between rollers 3 and 4 in the course of the operation of the apparatus, with 11 representing the pocket.

Disposed above and opposite the pocket 11 is a distributor 13 of lubricating powder.

The belt 1 extends between a first station 1A where it receives the billet from a furnace which has heated it to piercing or extrusion temperature, and a second station 2A where the billet, coated with the lubricating powder, is delivered onto a tray 14 which leads the billet into the press container.

In operation of this apparatus of FIGURE 1, at the outset, the driving rollers 2 and 4 are given identical peripheral speeds V so that the elements of the belt 1 situated on both sides of the pocket 11 also have this identical speed V and the belt remains at a preselected height 10. As soon as the billet 15 has been placed on the belt 1 at station 1A, it is carried along at the speed V When the billet, thus carried along by the belt, but not rotated thereby, reaches a position between rollers 3 and 4, motor 7 is so accelerated by operation of a speed con- 'trol rheostat 7a that the belt element driven by roller 4 runs at a speed V higher than speed V Accordingly, that portion of the belt 1 between rollers 3 and 4 stants to form the pocket 11 which grows in depth and the billet 15 starts to rotate about is longitudinal axis by travel of the belt 1 while descending to the bottom of the pocket 11. When the bottom of the pocket 11 reaches the position shown in FIGURE 1, such that the billet cannot leave the pocket motor 7 is so slowed down that the belt element driven by roller 4 again runs EDI the speed V Of course, the belt 1 has a length such that (formation of the pocket 11 is possible as shown by the sag therein (positions and 12).

Now, the volume of the pocket remains constant and the billet continues to rotate about its longitudinal axis at a peripheral speed close to V while consecutively exposing its difierent surfaces to a rain of lubricating powder which drops from the distributor 13.

As soon as the coating is adequate, motor 7 is slowed down by regulation of the rheosta't 7a in such a manner that the belt element driven by roller 4 runs at a speed V lower than V Then, due to the action of roller 2 driven by motor 6 in such a manner that the belt element between rollers 2 and 3 runs at the speed V the volume of the pocket 11 then decreases. The billet continues to rotate while rising with the bottom of the pocket, and as soon as this bottom reaches the position 12, the pocket is flattened and the billet naturally resumes its horizontal transistory motion on the belt at the speed V towards station 2A. At this time, motor 7 is accelerated so that the belt element driven by roller 4 runs at the speed V higher than V to restore the belt to position 10, whereupon the roller 4 is slowed down to speed V During this time, and still acted upon by the roller 2, the billet completes its movement to the loading tray 14 (station 2A).

FIGURE 2 illustrates a second embodiment of my invention and the same reference numerals indicate the same components as in FIGURE 1. In the embodiment of FIGURE 2, the roller 3 and the part of the belt lying between rollers 2 and 3 are omitted and the pocket 11 is formed directly between rollers 2 and 4 which are closer to each other. The slide table 9 between rollers 4 and 5 is retained and only a single motor 7 is used to drive the belt 1. The billet is then discharged, no longer by raising the pocket, but by lowering the roller 2, wherein a mounting for the roller 2 is made displaceab'le in height by any appropriate mechanism which displaces the roller to position 2'. As shown, this mechanism is a lever 16 connected at one end to the roller 2 and pivotally mounted at 16a adjacent the other end. Joined to the lever 16 is a rod 17a of a cylinder motor 17. The belt has a tension and/ or weight sufiicient for assuming position 19 when no billet lies between rollers 2 and 4, but not sufiicient for preventing the pocket 11 from being formed under the weight of a billet. The distribution of powder occurs in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a third embodiment of my invention, wherein the same reference numerals indicate th same components as those of FIGURES 1 and 2. In the FIGURE 3 embodiment, the roller 3 is retained and the roller 2 is driven by the motor 6 for operating the chain belt 1 at the speed V The motor 7 is omitted and the roller 4 runs idle.

The pocket 11 is formed by lowering two idler rollers 18 which bear upon and engage the sides of the chains and are adjustable in height by any appropriate mechanism, such as the assembly formed by two pivoted levers (one lever being shown with its pivot mounting 19a) and two motor cylinders (one cylinder motor 20 being shown). These idler rollers 18 are rotated by travel of the belt 1 while in engagement therewith and thereby in no way hinder turning of the billet 15 by the belt 1 when in the pocket 11. When the lateral rollers 18 are raised, tension in the chain belt and/ or the weight thereof is suflicient to eliminate the pocket 11 carrying the billet.

The movements of the chain belt and of the billet are the same as in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 as is the coating with powder, conveying and discharge which are effected under the same conditions.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of my invention and the same reference numerals, where employed, still designate the same parts as in the preceding figures. However, the endless belt 1 is formed by two side chains, one shown, with small rollers 21 and these two chains are joined to each other by hinged bars or links 22 which carry the billet 15. As shown, the chain travels around sprockets 4a and 2a, one of each shown, with sprocket 2a driven by the motor 6. The pocket 11 is formed by vertical displacement of two guide rails 23, which are in contact with the top generatrices of rollers 21 of the side chains and along the lower portion of which the rollers travel, and which are displaceable in height by connection to pivoted levers 19 and motor cylinders 20 like the idler rollers 18 of the embodiment of FIG- URE 3. The levers 19 have pivot mountings 19a at one end thereof.

The lower position of the pocket is between the press feeding tray 14- (partly not shown) and a push rod 24, all three being on the same level. When the endless belt 1 is in the lower position shown in FIGURE 4, the hinged links 22 engage the billet 15 to rotate it as the belt runs around the sprockets la and 2a.

The conveying of the billet 15, and coating with powder occur in the same manner as in the preceding embodiments.

The billet, when lying on the bottom of the pocket, is discharged by a push rod 24 which advances it along a path parallel to its longitudinal axis and places it on the loading tray 14. Once empty, the pocket is permitted to raise and disappear by operation of the cylinder motor 20 and lever 19 until the next billet is between the sprockets 2a and 4a.

While I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for coating with a lubricating powder before extrusion or piercing a metal billet heated to a hot extrusion or a hot piercing temperature, comprising an endless conveyor belt disposed between a first station where said billet is received onto said belt and a second station where said billet is delivered to means for advancing same to an extrusion or piercing machine, said belt being disposed upon and in engagement with roller members, being positioned substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis of the billet and forming a path of travel for said billet between said first and second stations, at least one of said roller members having a driving connection with a motor means which effects travel of said belt along said path, between said first and second stations two of said roller members being spaced apart a distance such that a pocket can be formed in said belt below said path and of a size sufficient to hold said billet, operable means for raising and lowering that portion of said belt between said two spaced apart roller members during travel of said belt when said billet is intermediate said two spaced apart roller members to form said pocket and to eliminate said pocket, said belt having a total length which permits formation of said pocket of a depth such that said billet when in said pocket is rotated about its longitudinal axis by travel of said belt and lubricating powder dispersing means positioned opposite said pocket and spaced apart therefrom for delivering said lubricant onto said billet when in said pocket.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 characterized by one of said two spaced apart roller members having a driving connection with a first motor means for drivingly rotating same, another of said roller members having a driving connection with a second motor means for drivingly rotating same, and said operable means being control means connected to said first motor means for regulating speed of said one roller member of said two spaced apart roller members to form said pocket by one of an increase and of a decrease in peripheral speed of said one roller member relative to the peripheral speed of said another roller member and to eliminate said pocket by a decrease in peripheral speed of said one roller member relative to the peripheral speed of said another roller member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 characterized by said operable means being a movable member connected to that roller member of said spaced apart two roller members closer to said second station for lowering said closer roller member to eliminate said pocket and for raising said closer roller member so that said pocket can be formed under the weight of said billet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 characterized by said belt being at least one of sufficient tension and of weight for raising to eliminate said pocket when no force is applied to it, and by said operable means being a vertically movable member bearing on that portion of said belt between said two spaced roller members for lowering that portion between said two spaced apart roller members to form said pocket and for raising to permit the elimination of said pocket, said bearing of said vertically mov able means on said portion being such that travel of said belt toward said second station is permitted.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 characterized by said vertically movable means being idler rolls disposed in engagement with a part of the lateral sides of that portion of said belt between said two spaced apart roller members and mounted for lowering to form said pocket and for raising to permit the elimination of said pocket.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 characterized by said vertically movable means being guide rails and by each lateral side of said belt being a row of small rollers disposed in engagement with the lower surface of said corresponding guide rail when between said two spaced apart roller members, said guide rails being joined to movable means for lowering same to form said pocket and for raising same to permit the elimination of said pocket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR COATING WITH A LUBRICATING POWDER BEFORE EXTRUSION OR PIERCING A METAL BILLET HEATED TO A HOT EXTRUSION OR A HOT PIERCING TEMPERATURE, COMPRISING AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT DISPOSED BETWEEN A FIRST STATION WHERE SAID BILLET IS RECEIVED ONTO SAID BELT AND A SECOND STATION WHERE SAID BILLET IS DELIVERED TO MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAME TO AN EXTRUSION OR PIERCING MACHINE, SAID BELT BEING DISPOSED UPON AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ROLLER MEMBERS, BEING POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BILLET AND FORMING A PATH OF TRAVEL FOR SAID BILLET BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLER MEMBERS HAVING A DRIVING CONNECTION WITH A MOTOR MEANS WHICH EFFECTS TRAVEL OF SAID BELT ALONG SAID PATH, BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS TWO OF SAID ROLLER MEMBERS BEING SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUCH THAT A POCKET CAN BE FORMED IN SAID BELT BELOW SAID PATH AND OF A SIZE SUFFICIENT TO HOLD SAID BILLET, OPERABLE MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THAT PORTION OF SAID BELT BETWEEN SAID TWO SPACED APART ROLLER MEMBERS DURING TRAVEL OF SAID BELT WHEN SAID BILLET IS INTERMEDIATE SAID TWO SPACED APART ROLLER MEMBERS TO FORM SAID POCKET AND TO ELIMINATE SAID POCKET, SAID BELT HAVING A TOTAL LENGTH WHICH PERMITS FORMATION OF SAID POCKET OF A DEPTH SUCH THAT SAID BILLET WHEN IN SAID POCKET IS ROTATED ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS BY TRAVEL OF SAID BELT AND LUBRICATING POWDER DISPERSING MEANS POSITIONED OPPOSITE SAID POCKET AND SPACED APART THEREFROM FOR DELIVERING SAID LUBRICANT ONTO SAID BILLET WHEN IN SAID POCKET. 